Do you love big bluegill?

East coast Ice fisherman

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A place to share tecniques ,past successes /failures and future prospects for fishing Gills and other fish through the ice.

Location: Ringwood New Jersey
Members: 21
Latest Activity: Feb 12

Finally...On the Ice!

We'll, the Carp Whisperer Bob and I got out for a little ice fishing today at a local pond that had 4 inches of good clear ice, We rigged up for bluegills with jigging rods and 1/10 oz Kastmaster spoons meal worms as a tipping bait. We didn't get a single bluegill, but we got some of these...

Ended up with 4 bass for myself in about 2 hours of jigging. Bob had two good strikes, including a bigger fish that ran his drag some. Bass went fro 14 to 17 inches. I lost about a 20 inch bass right at the hole...the fish just hovered slowly in the water just below the ice...giving me a great view of what I was losing! Would have been my largest ice bass had I got a hand on her. I got all my fish on 2 pound mono. Fish were 5-6 feet deep.

At least I got to feel a few fish today and get a slight 'fix' for my ice fishing habit! We have done good on gills here, but not today.

High today was 30 F with light winds. Might go tomorrow, but they are calling for sleet and freezing rain...sheeeesh!

The window for ice fishing here is very narrow...maybe only a few days this year. Calling for 65 on Wednesday! Crazy!

Carp guru Bob had to put me in my place..'.a 4 or 5 pound fish isn't a big fish to me" but I think he still had a good time. Glad to be out and glad to catch a couple fish!

Discussion Forum

Top Ten Ice Fishing Lures 4 Replies

TOP TEN ICE FISHING LURESNot sure I've ever caught a Fish through the ice on a lure un-tipped.1/4 oz. and 1/3 oz.Swedish Pimple,Nickle or Gold /Green Prism Tape/Shiner Head-Pickerel, Crappie Red…Continue

Started by John Sheehan. Last reply by John Sheehan Jan 10, 2024.

Plastics for Ice Fishing 3 Replies

I hope to get some safe Ice this Year 2024. Last Year I did no Ice Fishing at all. If I get the chance this Year, I'd like to get into using a variety of Plastics for Panfish and Predators. Any…Continue

Started by John Sheehan. Last reply by John Sheehan Jan 9, 2024.

Tipping with Perch eyes 2 Replies

Continue

Started by John Sheehan. Last reply by John Sheehan Jan 22, 2022.

Ice Fishing Chronicles 2009-? 7 Replies

In NJ we are allowed 5 rigs .I generally set 3 tip ups ,Jig a rod and have a dead stick rod hanging off a bucket. I switch on and off with the jigging rods .I have two set up for Gills and pan…Continue

Started by John Sheehan. Last reply by John Sheehan Feb 13, 2018.

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Comment by Jim Gronaw on January 10, 2014 at 6:21pm: Dave...I piled them each on the smaller trebles. The small Kastmaster has been a long time fav for bigger bluegills in my region when we do get good ice conditions. But they don't really hold as well as the single. When I am spooning yellow perch or crappies, I always use the single. But for gills, I hook more on the smaller trebls on the KM than a larger single.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on January 10, 2014 at 5:45pm: Went on local ice today and had 5 inches of good clear ice, but it will rapidly diminish with the incoming warm rain and temperatures. Still...was happy to catch a few bass and only one bluegill.

Good deal on the ice fix - looks like you had fun. Interesting - the maggot tipping on Kastmasters. Did you replace the trebles with single hooks, or just pile on three grubs?

Personally, sir, I'm ready for the rain to stop. I endure it, because I must.

Comment by Jim Gronaw on January 10, 2014 at 5:35pm: Went on local ice today and had 5 inches of good clear ice, but it will rapidly diminish with the incoming warm rain and temperatures. Still...was happy to catch a few bass and only one bluegill.

The two biggest bass came back to back out of the same hole in 4 ft of water. They hit a 1/8 oz gold Kastmaster tipped with maggots. They fought hard on the micro stuff and I had to gently play them out. The one gill took a perch pattern Jigging Rap with maggots on the center treble hooks...also at 4 ft. Missed several other light strikes, but the bass hit pretty good on the spoons. Fished 3 hours for a few fish, nothing the last 90 minutes on the ice.

Still...I got my ice fishing fix! Yaaayyyy!

Comment by Jim Gronaw on January 10, 2014 at 5:01pm: I finally got on some safe ice today at a solid 5 inches, but it will decrease quickly as we have big rain and near 60 degrees for the weekend...another typical up-and-down winter in the Mason Dixon area.

But...I caught a couple of fish! Pictures comin'!

Comment by dick tabbert on January 10, 2014 at 4:11pm: John haven't got out yet. I'll check it out when I can. Been wanting ice so bad finally got it and messed up my back. Xrays today MRI to follow hopefully real soon. Go out and get then for the both of us John.

Comment by John Sheehan on January 10, 2014 at 2:59pm: Patience is tough ,I now Bruce ! Hang in pal and be safe!

Comment by Bruce Tomaselli on January 10, 2014 at 2:53pm: Nice, John. I thought I was going to get out tomorrow, but there's a flood warning. We're supposed to get a half inch of rain.

Bruce

Comment by John Sheehan on January 10, 2014 at 2:45pm: Jim and Dick what are your ice conditions ? Get out yet? Hope to hit Shepherds lake next ,tip ups and Jigging rods in hand .Pickerel Bass Crappie and Gills hopefully but the lake stumps me through the ice!